Brian Guerin
I was very saddened to find out about Mike’s passing, I extend my deepest condolences to Vicky and Michael. I had not talked or heard from Mike in many years, but he came to mind when I decided to add to a blog about South Pacific Island Airways in American Samoa. That story could not be completely told without Mike’s additional impute.
I met Mike in Hawaii, I was coming off a career in construction and Mike had just sold his carpet company. Mike was two years older and two years ahead of me in his flying career, I considered him a valued mentor. We immediately hit it off as friends, flying McDonald hamburger buns and macadamia nuts at night in a Beech 18 aircraft interisland.
A South Pacific Island Airways turboprop (Twin Otter) plane came through Honolulu on its way to Samoa and Mike, said, “Let’s go meet this guy, maybe we can get a job.” So, we met Milt Woods (Chief Pilot) and Mike got a job and I followed two months later, on April 6, 1977.
Our year in Samoa was really the thing dreams are made of, we lived together in a gorgeous little house in the tropical jungle doing the thing we both loved most, non-stop flying. The stories we could tell!!! We watched the first Star Wars movie in a local theater and we spent nights at the Rainmaker Hotel socializing, enjoying the atmosphere and tropical drinks.
Our career paths separated after American Samoa, Mike moved on to Mobile Oil in Nigeria and I ended up not far away in Saudi Arabia.
I only wish I could have talked to Mike one last time about our adventures in paradise.
Mike, you were an amazing friend and one of the most memorable friends I was lucky enough to have.
Brian Guerin